Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 300 If the people's hearts yearn for the Han, what should Your Majesty do?!

Fancheng.

Several riders arrived from Luoyang in a cloud of dust.

Before long, Cao Rui was furious. When the news spread, his ministers, including Liu Ye, Xin Pi, Jiang Ji, and Pei Xuan, quickly gathered at the emperor's residence.

Cao Rui had suppressed his anger, his face was sullen and he didn't say a word, as unfathomable as he had been when he was a prince. Although the eunuch Bixie standing by his side dared not vent his anger, his gaze toward the ministers below was rather fierce and cold.

Yang Fu, the upright and incorruptible Minister of the Imperial Household, finally stepped forward first. The emperor, who was reclining at the court, bowed deeply and then offered his remonstrance in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty, please forgive my boldness in speaking frankly."

"The prince died young, and according to the rites, posthumously granting him the title of prince is already a great favor."

“Establishing a special mausoleum and setting up a county to guard the tomb is an overreach of regulations. It not only wastes national funds but also risks drawing criticism from the people.”

"Your Majesty, I humbly beg you to reconsider your actions and follow the established rites and precedents."

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui's expression revealed his extreme anger.

This young master Yang Fu has never been afraid of the emperor's face.

After Cao Rui ascended the throne, he saw Cao Rui wearing a hat with exquisite embroidery and a short-sleeved silk robe. He then questioned Cao Rui in person: "What etiquette is Your Majesty following in wearing your clothes and hat?"
Cao Rui remained silent and did not answer, but later, he dared not see Yang Fu again after wearing court attire in violation of etiquette.

Seeing that the expenses of the harem were too high, Yang Fu submitted a memorial proposing to remove the concubines who were not favored in the palace. He then summoned the officials of the Imperial Household Department to inquire about the number of people in the harem.

The official, adhering to the old order, replied: "It is a secret and must not be disclosed to outsiders."

Yang Fu was furious and had the official flogged one hundred times, cursing him as follows:
"Why does the state not keep secrets with the Nine Ministers, but instead with minor officials?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui held Yang Fu in even greater respect and awe.

Just one year before the Prime Minister's Northern Expedition, Cao Rui built a grand palace in Luoyang and sent beautiful women to fill his harem.

Heavy rain and lightning struck, killing many birds.

Yang Fu remonstrated again, saying that Heaven and the gods regard the king as their son, and that if the government is improper, disaster will befall him. He strongly advised Cao Rui not to waste money on building palaces and recruiting concubines.

Finally, they even said: "The ruler is the head of state, and the ministers are his right-hand men; their survival or destruction is one's responsibility, and their gains or losses are shared."

The Classic of Filial Piety states: "If an emperor has seven remonstrating ministers, even if he is immoral, he will not lose his empire."

"Though I am incompetent and cowardly, how could I forget the duty of a loyal minister?"

"Your Majesty fails to heed my words, and I fear the legacy of our illustrious ancestor will be lost."

"If even the death of this envoy can bring about even a fraction of benefit, then the day of death will feel like a year of life. I respectfully bow before his coffin, bathe, and await severe punishment."

Yang Fu had already done the same thing as Hai Rui carrying his own coffin to remonstrate with the emperor, but his words were utterly arrogant and rebellious. "If you don't listen to me, you can expect the dynasty to collapse."

Half a month ago, Cao Rui learned that his only heir, Cao Mu, had unfortunately died young. He was very depressed. Considering that the war in Xiangfan would not break out for a while, he wanted to return to Luoyang first to personally attend his son's funeral.

At that time, the young master of the palace once again dared to speak frankly and directly to the emperor.

"When Emperor Wen and Empress Wu Xuan passed away, Your Majesty did not attend their funerals."

Why?

Therefore, we value the state and prepare for unforeseen events.

"With war imminent and Your Majesty personally leading the campaign, why should an infant be brought to your funeral?"

These words were also spoken very bluntly.

You didn't even attend your parents' funerals, but you went to the funeral of your two-year-old son. What will the world think of you?

Although Cao Rui was furious at that time, he was aware that he had indeed taken up the banner and personally led the expedition, and it was not appropriate for him to actually return to Luoyang, otherwise he might lose the morale of the troops at the front. So he sent an envoy to Luoyang to convey his decree.

Cao Mu, the Prince of Fanyang, was posthumously granted the title of Prince of Pingyuan, with the posthumous name Min. His funeral was conducted according to the rites for princes and kings. A mausoleum was built in the southern suburbs of Luoyang, with a fief of three hundred households to maintain and clean it.

Unexpectedly, the imperial decree he issued was rejected this time.

This would have been almost impossible before the Han army's northern expedition. After all, he had already made concessions on this matter, no longer returning to Luoyang to personally attend his son's funeral. The ministers, led by Chen Qun, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, should have given him some face.

But his imperial decree was still rejected.

Undoubtedly, his imperial authority has been challenged, and someone is trying to test his bottom line through this small matter.

"The Minister of the Imperial Household has repeatedly slandered the Emperor, feigning loyalty to gain praise. Does he think I will refrain from taking action because of the so-called duty between ruler and subject?" Although Cao Rui was extremely indignant, he still sat cross-legged and leaned back, seemingly asking with amusement.

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked.

For a monarch to utter such blatant threats shows a complete disregard for the dignity of the imperial family.

Only Yang Fu, facing the emperor's seemingly casual gaze, stepped forward without fear:

No!
"Your Majesty may say that this old minister is slandering the emperor and selling his honesty, or that he is being loyal and outspoken in order to gain praise!"
"This old minister knows his own limitations. He is not deceiving the emperor, but rather not deceiving the state, the people, or Your Majesty's wisdom!"

Cao Rui narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp, and finally let out a contemptuous snort.

Yang Fu, however, disregarded all objections and remonstrated forcefully once again:

"If the country is at peace, whether Your Majesty wishes to carry the coffin or build a mausoleum and establish a city, the people of the world may say that Your Majesty has the heart of a benevolent father and that your sorrow is worthy of pity."

"However, at this turbulent time, Your Majesty intends to establish a special mausoleum, set up a county to guard it, and make a great show of it. In my opinion, this is not to add honor to the imperial heir, but to give others a handle to use against you!"

Cao Rui finally managed a cold smile:
"Oh? The heir to the throne died young, and I built a mausoleum and a fief for the heir. Is that a crime?"
"Tell me, Your Excellency, to whom and by what authority am I entrusting this action?"

"This has given Liu Shan of Western Shu and Sun Quan of Eastern Wu the handle to verbally and in writing attack them! It has given the people of the world the handle to make them think of chaos!" Yang Fu's voice suddenly rose, his indignation overflowing.

"Does Your Majesty know that Prince Yongnu died in Youzhou, and Prince Pingyuan died in Luoyang? The Imperial Uncle and the Imperial Heir died almost at the same time!"

What would Liu Shan and Sun Quan say?
"What will people in the world think?"

"They will say that this is divine retribution!"

"They would say that the Wei dynasty's usurpation of the Han dynasty was against the will of Heaven, so Heaven punished them by first executing the talented imperial uncle and then severing the bloodline of the Wei dynasty!"

"Your Majesty!" Yang Fu paused heavily, his voice filled with anguish.

“Last year, there was a severe drought in Guanzhong, and the false prophecy that ‘when the Luo River dries up, a sage will appear’ has already spread throughout the world. What was the result?”
"The Luo River has truly dried up!"
"Guanzhong has actually changed hands!"
"That so-called 'sage' title is now being used by the Shu traitors!"
"This is a lesson from the past, and the same mistakes are still fresh in our minds. Your Majesty must take heed!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui was finally taken aback. His face flushed red and then turned pale, as a surge of anger and confusion overwhelmed him at the same time.

Yang Fu paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, whether seeking approval or questioning them, before continuing in a resounding voice:

"If His Majesty is allowed to build a mausoleum beyond the prescribed limits today, rumors will spread like wildfire tomorrow!"
"Words that Heaven cannot tolerate will spread throughout the world!"
"Those within our borders who harbor treacherous intentions will rise up everywhere!"
"The enemies from beyond the borders, like tigers and wolves, will use the decline of the Wei dynasty to attack the very foundation of our great Wei kingdom!"

"Your Majesty, what will happen when the people of the world are in turmoil and the foundation of the Great Wei Kingdom is shaken?!"
"This old minister's advice to Your Majesty today is not out of a lack of compassion, but rather to prevent the source of disaster for Your Majesty and for our Great Wei, so as to secure the nation!"

"This is simply the duty of a subject to be loyal to the emperor; how can it be considered deceiving the emperor?!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui could no longer maintain his calm demeanor. His eyes widened in fury, his chest heaved, and he finally stopped sitting cross-legged.

The ministers present, such as Liu Ye, Jiang Ji, Xin Pi, and Pei Xuan, secretly agreed with Yang Fu's words.

In fact, news of the deaths of Cao Zhi, the tragic imperial uncle, and Cao Mu, the imperial heir, came almost simultaneously, and many ministers had already discussed it privately.

However, they dared not, or were unwilling to, say anything more to this emperor.

Even Jiang Ji, who had privately advised Cao Rui in similar terms, did not dare to speak as bluntly as Yang Fu.

Regardless of the circumstances, Yang Fu's words caused many veteran officials to feel startled and somewhat confused once again.

It should be understood that not only the ignorant masses believed in prophecies and omens, but also many ministers who had received education on the divine right of kings from childhood.

Otherwise, people wouldn't go to someone to interpret their dreams.

Now, Cao Wei's imperial uncle and heir have both died, and Empress Dowager Bian is seriously ill; it is unknown how much longer she can hold on.

Misfortune is common for royal families, but the Cao Wei royal family suffered repeated misfortunes during the rise of Western Shu, which gave many former officials and their descendants the opportunity to stir up trouble.

Once the news spreads throughout the world through the mouths of those old-fashioned people, and those who yearn for the Han dynasty connect it with last year's prophecy, "When the Luo River dries up, a sage will appear," the consequences will be unimaginable.

Who dares to say that human nature is useless?
Let alone those who yearn for the Han dynasty, even the court officials, have they not had any concerns or worries about the repeated misfortunes of the imperial family?
It certainly exists.

There was one in the room.

Xin Pi, the ever-loyal Commandant of the Guards, bowed deeply to the Emperor:
"Your Majesty, wise people naturally know that life and death are impermanent and have nothing to do with fate."
"However, most people in the world are foolish men and women, who are most easily misled by such sensational words."

"Once rumors spread and people's hearts waver, there is indeed a risk that the foundation of our Great Wei will be shaken."

Cao Rui no longer leaned back and sat with his legs spread apart, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't sit up straight. He looked listless and his eyes seemed to be spitting fire.

He understood what Yang Fu and Xin Pi were saying, but the humiliation and anger of being forced by his subjects to suppress even the pain of losing his son had shattered his reason.

"Very well, very well indeed! Even my act of showing compassion for my deceased son has been labeled as bringing disaster to the country and its people? How utterly aggrieved I am as the Son of Heaven!"

The word "frustration" was roared out, filling the room with resentment and sorrow.

Seeing this, Grand Commandant Liu Ye, who had been silent all along, quickly stepped forward to smooth things over:
"I humbly beg Your Majesty to calm your anger. Although the words of Prefect Yang and Commandant Xin are upright and unyielding, their sincere intentions are as clear as day."

Observing Cao Rui's expression, and seeing that the emperor had not become more angry because of his words, he was slightly relieved and said in a sorrowful tone:

"Your Majesty's grief is truly felt by me."

"However, the importance of the nation cannot be ignored."

Last year, the Shu barbarians invaded from the north and seized Guanzhong. The Wu bandits came from the north, intending to take Xiangfan.

"If Liu Shan and Sun Quan join forces and look down on the Great Wei, then the country will be in trouble."

"But the Shu barbarians lost their wisdom. Instead of joining forces with Sun Wu to attack Wei, they broke their alliance with Sun Wu and fought against the Wu traitors in the east. This was due to their arrogance and conceit."

"Now that the Wu bandits are beset by internal and external troubles, this is precisely the opportunity for our Great Wei to eliminate one of these bandits for the world. We must not miss this chance."

At this point, Liu Ye paused, sighed, and then continued:

"However... the loss in Guanzhong last year has demoralized the soldiers, and Guandong is also suffering from a severe drought, leaving the people without food and the country without funds."

"Your Majesty's actions serve two purposes: first, to personally lead the expedition to boost morale; and second, to govern diligently, halting the construction of palaces to demonstrate frugality to the world. If Prince Fanyang and Prince Pingyuan were alive, they would surely not wish for Your Majesty to harm the nation's well-being due to excessive grief."

Liu Ye was always good at flattery. Although he was also offering advice, he was much more subtle. At this moment, he praised the emperor for his hard work and compassion for the soldiers, which obviously lessened the emperor's anger.

Yang Fu, however, disregarded everything, and with a solemn expression, remonstrated once more:

"Your Majesty, this is an extraordinary time, and extraordinary measures must be taken."

"The funeral of King Pingyuan should be kept as simple as possible. Not only should no mausoleum or fief be built, but the news of King Pingyuan's death should also be kept secret and not given any reason to speak out!"

"Only in this way can we prevent future troubles and stabilize the foundation of our great Wei Kingdom. This is the best policy. I implore Your Majesty to prioritize the overall situation of the nation and temporarily suppress your grief!"

Cao Rui's emotions, which had just been calmed down by Liu Ye, were stirred up again, and a great deal of sadness and resentment welled up in his heart once more.

When his mother died a violent death, at her funeral, her hair was disheveled, her face covered, and her mouth stuffed with chaff. Not a single official in the entire court advised Cao Pi to consider the feelings of the people and plead for her. Now that he is the emperor, merely offering another measure of mourning for his deceased son, these officials are so hesitant and calculating?!

"Suppress our grief for now?!"

"My prince has died young, a great loss to the nation's heir. Must I even have to consider your opinions and the opinions of the people of the world to bestow upon him an extra measure of mourning?!"

"My mind is made up!"
"The Pingyuan King's Mausoleum must be built!"

"The royal tombs of Pingyuan must be established!"

"Immediately order the selection of an auspicious site and time, and have the Directorate of Works oversee all related procedures!!!"

After speaking, the emperor turned his gaze to Cao Xiu's eldest son, Cao Zuan: "Desi, you shall handle this matter in conjunction with the Director of Works and the Minister of Ceremonies. There must be no mistakes!"

Cao Zuan immediately rose from his seat, bowed, and spoke in a loud voice:

"Your subject obeys the decree! I will do my utmost to ensure that King Pingyuan's posthumous honors are complete!"

"Your Majesty!" Yang Fu was clearly surprised that even after all the ministers had said their best, Cao Rui was still going his own way. His indignation and the fierce determination to "die for his principles" erupted instantly.

He stepped forward directly, his expression turning indignant, his hunched back straight, his voice booming like a bell.

"Your Majesty! My words today are not for my own reputation, but for the sake of the nation and the people! For Your Majesty's posthumous reputation! If Your Majesty insists on doing this, how are you any different from the tyrants Jie and Zhou?!"

The moment the words "Jie" and "Zhou" were uttered, the room fell into a deathly silence. The assembled officials were horrified, and even Liu Ye, Jiang Ji, and others gasped in shock.

Such comparisons are the limit of what a subject can utter; they are tantamount to a curse!
Cao Rui's suppressed anger was instantly ignited by the words "Jie" and "Zhou".

He abruptly stood up, his face ashen, his finger trembling as he pointed at Yang Fu: "You... Yang Fu! How dare you!"

Yang Fu, however, seemed to have already disregarded life and death, and was completely reckless. His hair and beard stood on end, and his words became increasingly vehement.
"I am not being bold, but I have no choice but to speak!"

"Does Your Majesty know that in the past, King Li of Zhou suppressed slander and communicated only with his eyes in the streets, which ultimately led to a rebellion among the people and his own death on the ground!"

"Your Majesty is now blocking the channels of communication, disregarding the foundation of the Great Wei Kingdom for your own selfish desires, offending the heavens above and losing the hearts of the people below!"
"Last year, the Luo River dried up and Guanzhong suffered a severe drought; the consequences are still fresh in our minds!"
"If we do this immoral thing again, I fear the calamities that will befall us will be even greater than before!"

"Your Majesty, I dare ask you, when you are in the afterlife, how will you face Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen?!"
"Is the foundation that our ancestors painstakingly built for the Great Wei Dynasty truly destined to crumble and be destroyed by Your Majesty's own hands?!"

"Enough!!!" Cao Rui finally unleashed his thunderous rage, all traces of restraint he had left vanishing completely.

"You rebellious and treacherous minister! You slander the emperor, feign loyalty, and curse the fate of the nation—you have gone too far! I have tolerated you for too long; do you really think I dare not kill you?!"

He pointed a sharp finger at Yang Fu's nose and then shouted angrily towards the outside:

"Where are the Tiger Guards?! Seize this old scoundrel! Strip him of his official hat and belt and throw him into prison! Anyone who visits him without my order will be punished as well!"

The clanging of armor suddenly rang out outside the hall, and several fierce-looking guards rushed in. Without hesitation, they lifted up the tall, proud, and bearded man, a veteran official of three dynasties and the Grand Minister of the Great Wei.

Although this veteran of three reigns was dragged out of the residence by the elite guards, he still struggled to turn back and shouted with all his might:
"Your Majesty! I would not regret my own death, but after my death, I fear that the upright and honest officials of the Great Wei will no longer dare to speak frankly and offer advice!"
"History is written with iron will; how will future generations judge His Majesty's actions?!"

This action, however, is unclear whether it indicates that Cao Rui was acting unilaterally to build a mausoleum and fief for his son, or that he was imprisoning ministers who dared to speak out.

The old minister's voice faded into the distance, eventually disappearing from everyone's ears.

The room was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

All the ministers in the room bowed their heads, not daring to look directly at the young emperor who was still panting and angry.

After a long while, Cao Rui finally slumped back into his seat, his face pale, but his eyes filled with a mixture of rage and exhaustion.

The stories Yang Fu had just told him about Jie and Zhou, and King Li of Zhou's attempts to quell slander, leading to a people's uprising and his own death on the ground, kept echoing in his mind.

King Li of Zhou levied exorbitant taxes and levies, causing widespread suffering and resentment among the people.

Faced with criticism and discussion from his people, King Li of Zhou did not reflect on his national policies. Instead, he imposed high pressure and hired a sorcerer from the State of Wei to monitor the people. Anyone who dared to discuss the government or criticize the emperor was immediately executed.

As a result, the people dared not speak openly anymore.

When acquaintances meet on the street, they can only exchange glances, which is what is meant by "exchanging glances on the road," and the whole country is lifeless.

Duke Shao advised King Li of Zhou, uttering that famous saying that has been passed down through the ages:

"Preventing the people from speaking is more difficult than preventing a river from overflowing."

Trying to silence the people is more dangerous than blocking a great river. Blocking a great river will cause it to burst its banks, leading to widespread public resentment. It is better to guide the flow than to block it.

Three years later, the pent-up resentment finally erupted, the people revolted, the populace besieged the palace, and King Li of Zhou fled in panic, eventually dying in Zhi, Shanxi.

For the next fourteen years, the Western Zhou Dynasty had no emperor, and the Dukes of Shao and Zhou jointly ruled, a period known in historical records as the "Zhou-Zhao Regency".

The emperor remained silent, and the brows of the senior officials and ministers in the room furrowed even deeper with worry.

After a long while, Cao Rui ignored the ministers in the room and left on his own.

North of the Han River.

Cao Xiu's central army camp.

As soon as Cao Rui entered, he noticed the strange expressions on the faces of the generals in the camp. They were clearly afraid of him, and he realized that the news of Yang Fu's slander of the emperor and his curse on the fate of the country, which led to his imprisonment, had reached this place.

Cao Xiu gave up his seat of honor and stepped aside.

Cao Rui didn't take it to heart, and after sitting down, he looked at Cao Xiu and asked:

"Grand Marshal, what are the movements of the Shu barbarians and Wu rebels?"
"Any important news from key locations like Yiling, Jiangling, and Xiakou?"

Yiling was a battlefield between the Han and Wu dynasties.

Jiangling was where Sun Quan was located.

Xiakou is where the Xia River and the Han River converge into the Yangtze River, at the foot of Wuchang. Hu Zhi, the governor of Jiangxia, was responsible for monitoring the movements of Sun Wu's reinforcements there.

After much hesitation, Cao Xiu finally spoke:
"Your Majesty... Yiling... Yiling has fallen into the hands of the Shu people."

The tent was instantly silent.

Cao Rui suddenly stood up, his pupils contracting sharply:
"What did you say?!"

"When did this happen?!"

"How did it get lost?!"

The news of the capture of Yiling was truly astonishing. Even someone as arrogant and domineering as Cao Xiu could not believe it at this moment, and he stammered:

"Your Majesty, a scout has found a woodcutter near Yiling and Zhijiang."

"Yiling was captured by the Shu army in one day on the 12th of the second month."

"One day?!" Cao Rui exclaimed, his face filled with disbelief. "How is that possible?!"

"Zhu Ran is a veteran general of Jiangdong. In the past, he was able to hold out for half a year during the siege of Jiangling."

"Although Yiling is not as fortified as Jiangling, it is still a well-fortified city with sufficient supplies and is well-prepared. Even if a million Shu troops attack, how could it possibly fall in a single day?!"

Cao Xiu shook his head: "Your Majesty, I dare not speak presumptuously. The woodcutter has been captured and brought here. Although his language is crude, the situation he described is truly horrifying."

"Tell me," Cao Rui asked repeatedly.

He said that the Shu army first launched stones and cannons, and then used catapults to launch fireballs, which set the city walls ablaze and caused chaos in the city.

Cao Shuang stood to the side, his brows furrowed.

"Your Majesty, fireballs are used to attack the city... The fireballs can even be launched without being extinguished... I wonder when the people of Shu acquired such a powerful siege weapon?"

Cao Rui's expression of disbelief deepened.

At this point, Cao Xiu said:
"Not only that, according to the woodcutter, there were also Wu people inside the city dressed in Wu army armor, with red turbans tied around their arms, who took advantage of the chaos to help the Shu people seize the north gate of Yiling, and cooperated with the Shu army outside the city from within..."

As Cao Xiu spoke, he took out a crumpled piece of white paper from his bosom and handed it to the emperor's throne:

"Your Majesty, this is a proclamation that the people of Shu shot into the city with slingshots."

The eunuch Bixie quickly stepped forward, took the crumpled paper from Cao Xiu's hand, and presented it to the emperor.

Cao Rui unfolded his scroll and his gaze swept over it quickly.

Huan Fan, Cao Xiu's military advisor, stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before saying:

"Your Majesty, this proclamation is extremely malicious, deliberately exposing Sun Quan's flaws and undermining the foundation of his rule."

"Furthermore, the bounty was offered as an incentive. Although Zhu Ran had the ability to defend the city, the people's hearts were already in turmoil and the army's morale was wavering. Beset by internal and external troubles, this defeat occurred."

Cao Xiu's face turned pale upon hearing this. He had recently suffered a loss at the hands of Sun Quan, and he could better appreciate how terrifying it was that the Shu army had captured Yiling in a single day.

He said to Cao Rui, "Your Majesty, if what the woodcutter said is true, the Wu people may find it difficult to contain the momentum of the Shu army."

Cao Rui closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again, his eyes now showing some composure. After a moment, he looked at Liu Ye, who had remained silent:

"Grand Commandant, what is your opinion?"

Liu Ye stepped forward and slowly said:
"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that what the woodcutter saw may not be false, but it is ultimately just a glimpse into the whole picture."

"The capture of Yiling in a single day is truly beyond comprehension. This old minister suspects there may be some hidden reason behind it."

He paused, then, meeting the gazes of Cao Rui and the assembled officials, continued:

"Perhaps it wasn't that the Shu army was truly so powerful that it could destroy the fortified city that Zhu Ran was guarding in a single day, but rather... Sun Quan may have secretly ordered Zhu Ran to abandon Yiling, consolidate his forces, and defend Jiangling."

"After all, Wuxian and Zigui have been lost, and Yiling is out of reach, making supplies difficult. Holding out for a long time may not be beneficial."

"Even a brave man might cut off his own arm, but who knows?"

"That fireball and the inside agent may have just accelerated the process, or perhaps it was a deceptive illusion created by Zhu Ran during his withdrawal."

"Otherwise, this old minister truly does not know how the Shu people could have captured such an important town in a day or two."

Liu Ye's words eased the tense atmosphere in the tent slightly.

Cao Shuang immediately echoed:

"The Grand Commandant is absolutely right! It must be so!"
"Sun Quan and Lu Xun have always been cunning. They must have seen that the situation was not good and took the initiative to abandon Yiling, intending to concentrate their forces in Jiangling to confront the Shu people!"

Senior officials such as Jiang Ji and Xin Pi nodded slightly, seemingly more willing to accept this explanation.

After all, admitting that the Shu army possessed the terrifying ability to breach the fortified city of Yiling in a single day would be a huge blow to the morale of the Wei soldiers.

As Cao Rui listened to the discussions, his gaze returned to the "Proclamation Against Sun Quan," and he suddenly recalled what Yang Fu had said earlier. A nameless unease began to spread deep within him.

"Send out the order to send more scouts to investigate and report back! I need accurate news from Yiling!"

(End of this chapter)